Flood Insurance News

Sandy Flood Insurance Issues Said to Be Focus of Criminal Probe

New York’s attorney general has opened a criminal probe into accusations by Hurricane Sandy victims that insurance companies rejected claims for flood damage to their properties based on falsified engineering reports, a person familiar with the matter said. New York …

FEMA Agrees to Fargo, North Dakota, Flood Insurance Basement Exemption

Fargo, N.D’s acting mayor says the Federal Emergency Management Agency has moved to continue to allow homeowners to have basements in the city’s new floodplain. FEMA is responsible for the National Home Insurance Program and does not always allow basements …

Flood-Control Canal-Widening Completed in Southern Louisiana

A project to help reduce flooding in much of northern Terrebonne Parish in Louisiana is finished. Officials expected to pay more than $1 million to clean and widen a major drainage canal in Gray. The job came in about $98,000 …

Insurers Dogged by Claims of Slanted Sandy Reports

When Superstorm Sandy hit the East Coast, flood insurance companies working for the Federal Emergency Management Agency dispatched an army of structural engineers to do some detective work. Their assignment: Find out how much damage to policyholders’ homes was caused …

Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Redesign Grand River Floodwalls

Grand Rapids, Mich., is redesigning its flood protection system along the Grand River after years of resistance to calls by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to boost floodwalls. The Grand Rapids Press reports the city is studying 16 sites along …

FEMA Sets Up Interim Flood Insurance Advocate

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has launched the interim office of the Flood Insurance Advocate. The interim office will be led by Acting Flood Insurance Advocate David Stearrett beginning Dec. 22. Stearrett most recently served as chief of Floodplain …

South Louisiana Property Owners not Happy with Levee Plan

A levee proposal by the North Lafourche Levee District in Louisiana is receiving flak from landowners who aren’t pleased with updated plans, causing the project to stall. A section of the Lockport to Larose levee project, south of Louisiana Highway …

Sandy Flood Insurers Ordered to Disclose Drafts of Engineering Reports

A Travelers Cos. unit and other flood insurers accused by Hurricane Sandy victims in New York of using falsified engineering reports must turn over the drafts to policyholders, a three-judge panel ruled amid allegations that manipulation may have been widespread. …

Travelers Unit Sued Over Allegedly Manipulated Sandy Report

A Travelers Cos. unit was sued by two New York homeowners who accused it of using a doctored engineering report to reject much of their claim for flood damage from Hurricane Sandy, making it the third insurer to face such …

Lawmakers: Sandy Flood Insurance Concerns Will Be Addressed

Federal emergency officials are taking new steps to address concerns from homeowners still struggling to rebuild after Superstorm Sandy more than two years ago, New Jersey and New York lawmakers announced on Friday, Dec. 5. U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., …